Nonspill scoop



Aug. 24, 1954 s o ETAL 2,687,245

NONSPILL SCOOP Filed D96. 7, 1951 Fig.1

INVENTORS Fmmms B.ALLSTON a AucE c. ALL5TN BY w mwflmm 04m ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 24, 1954 '7 UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE NON SPILL SCOOP Francis B. Allston and Alice C. Allst'on,

Beaufort, S. C.

Application December '7, 1951, Serial'JNo. 260,354

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to scoops, and more particularly a scoop for filling bags-or sacks with popcorn, candy, and similar material.

The main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved scoop device for filling bags with popcorn, candy and similar material, the improved scoop device being simple in construction, being easy to manipulate, and eifectively preventing spilling of the material during the filling of a receptacle by the use of thescoop device.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved filling scoop for filling bags, boxes, and other receptacles with popcorn, candy and similar material, the improved receptacle being inexpensive to fabricate, being rugged in construction, being well balanced, and being arranged to fill a bag or box with popcorn and similar material in a single operation.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top view of an improved scoop device constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the scoop device illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical cross sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical cross sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings, the improved scoop device is designated generally at II and comprises a longitudinally tapering, channel-shaped main body I2 having the web portion, or bottom, I 3, and the respective side flanges I4 and IS, the web I3 being trapezoidal in shape, as shown, whereby the flanges I 4 and I5 converge toward the left, as viewed in Figure 1. Formed integrally with the flange I4 and extending from the intermediate portion of the edge thereof is the transversely extending shield plate I6, said shield plate being formed at its free margin with a depending flange I1 which extends over the top margin of the flange I5 and is secured to flange It by suitable fasteners, as for example, by a plurality of rivets I8.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the side flanges I4 and I5 taper in width, the top edges of said side flanges being inclined downwardly toward the left end of the channel-shaped body I 2, as is clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3. The shield plate I6 is substantially fiat and accordingly is inclined downwardly toward the left end of the body I2.

Designated at I9 is a handle which is formed with a shank 20- having a securing lug 21 at its end. As shown in Figure 1, the main portion of the handle I9 is laterally offset with respect to the securing lug 2|. Said securing lug 21 is detachably secured to one of the side flanges of body I2, as by bolts 22, 22 which extend through the fastening lug 2|, the side flange of body I2 and through a washer plate 24 disposed adjacent the inside surface of the'side flange, said bolts being provided with the fastening nuts 25 to clamp the fastening lug 2I securely to the side flange of the body member. Since the body member I2 is made of relatively thin material, the washer plate 24 serves as a stiifener and reinforcement for the side flange of the body member, whereby the handle fastening lug 2| may be rigidly secured to said side flange. The respective side flanges I4 and I5 are respectively formed with apertures 26, 26, whereby the handle I9 may be secured to either side flange I4 or I5, as desired by the user, and whereby the handle may be properly arranged for use by either right handed or left handed persons. As shown in Figure 1, the main portion of the handle I 9 is slightly inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of the scoop body I2 and said main handle portion is spaced laterally from the scoop body.

In using the device, the operator merely fills the main body I2 with the material to be packaged, such as popcorn or the like, and then inserts the smaller end of the scoop body into the bag or box to be filled, allowing the bag or box to cover at least the left marginal portion of the shield plate I6, as viewed in Figure l, whereupon, the scoop is tilted, along with the package or receptacle to an upright position, allowing the material to gravitate into the receptacle, spillage of the material being prevented by the shield plate I6. It will be readily apparent, that by fabricating the scoop device so as to be substantially equal in volume to the receptacle to be filled, the receptacles may be filled in a single scoop operation and with no spillage.

The scoop body I2, and the shield plate I 6 integral therewith, may be fabricated of any suitable sheet metal, such as sheet aluminum or the like, or alternatively may be made up of suitable sturdy non-metallic sheet material, such as plastic material.

While a specific embodiment of an improved scoop device for filling bags, boxes and similar receptacles, has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore,

it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A scoop of the character described comprising a longitudinally tapering, channel-shaped main body, the side Walls of said body tapering in height toward the smaller end of the body, whereby said body has its forward end relatively smaller in cross sectional area than its rear end, a shield plate of substantial longitudinal length secured to the intermediate portions of the top margins of the side walls of said body and covering the intermediate portion of said body, and a handle secured to one of the side walls of the body and extending alongside the body in laterally spaced relation thereto toward its smaller end.

2. A scoop of the character described comprising a longitudinally tapering, channel-shaped main body, the side walls of said body tapering in height toward the smaller end of the body, whereby said body has its forward end relatively smaller in cross sectional area than its rear end, a shield plate of substantial longitudinal length secured to the intermediate portions of the top margins of the side walls of said body and covering the intermediate portion of said body, and an elongated handle detachably secured to one of the side walls of the body and extending alongside said body in laterally spaced relation thereto toward its smaller end, said handle being arranged to be selectively secured to either side Wall of the body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date D. 147,459 Kloth Sept. 9, 1947 112,727 Lum Mar. 14, 1871 133,562 Chafiin Dec. 3, 1872 238,942 Macardle, Mar. 15, 1881 273,253 Byrkett Mar. 6, 1883 360,453 Levy et a1. Apr. 5, 1887 438,948 Robinson Oct. 21, 1890 1,053,438 Resch Feb. 18, 1913 1,167,782 Richards Jan. 11, 1916 1,234,057 McIntyre July 17, 1917 2,182,464 Blackstone Dec. 5, 1939 2,317,292 Nash Apr. 20, 1943 

